Mail-box.



e. WESTELIN.

MAIL BOX. APPLICATION FILED Him 16, 1909. 955 7736 Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Z E s 1| ,I L 1 f q if A I; l I m 1 h' 1J- v h; if i l 'I 1L3 ATENT QFFICE.

UTED STA GOTTFRID WESTELIN, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

MAIL-B OX.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GoTTrRID TESTELIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes, its object being to provide a device of this character such as commonly used upon the doors of residences and offices, and which is very simple and durable in construction, the closure of the box being stationary, while the body or mailreceiving portion thereof is designed to be shifted, either for the purpose of placing mail within the box or for remov ing it therefrom.

A further object is to provide simple means whereby the box can be readily secured in closed position, without, however, interfering with the partial opening thereof for the purpose of placing mail therein.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through a box embodying the improvements, two of the positions thereof being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the back wall of the device, the same being provided at the top with a fixed shelf 2, constituting a closure, this shelf being provided at its sides with depending longitudinally extending flanges 3, each of which 1s cut away at its front end, as indicated at d, to form a'recess for the purpose hereinafter set forth. One of the flanges 3 has an eye 5 extending laterally from the front end thereof, and disposed directly above another eye 6, formed at one end of an arm 7 extending from the flange 3, the distance between the eyes 5 and 6 being sufiicient to receive there between a handle 8 extending laterally and upwardly from the upper portion of the side of the movable portion of the box. Each handle H has a shoulder or finger rest 8 extending backward therefrom to facilitate the manipulation of the box by the car- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 16, 190B.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Serial No. 507,991.

rier, it being possible by the use of this device to open the box and drop letters thereinto with one hand. This movable portion includes a base 9 which is hingedly connected to the bottom portion of the back wall 1, as indicated at 10, there being front, back and side walls extending upwardlyfrom this base, the back wall 11 being shorter than the front and side walls, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. These front and side walls are of such length that when the movable portion of the device is in its normal position the said walls will bear upwardly against the shelf 2, which thus acts as a closure for the mail-receiving compartment within the movable body. The hinge 10 is provided with a spring 12, whereby the movable body is held normally with its wall 11 bearing against the wall 1. Two handles 8 are preferably utilized, one being located upon each side of the movable body, and it will be apparent that when a padlock 18, or any other suitable fastening means is inserted into the registering eyes 5 and 6 the movable body can be swung forward until the corresponding handle 8 comes into contact with the lock. This movement will be sufficient to partly open the upper end of the movable body, it being therefore possible to insert mail into the projecting upper portion of the body, this mail falling into said body and upon the bottom 9 thereof. As soon as said body is released the spring 12 will return it to position under the shelf 2, which thus serves to protect it from rain, etc. When it is desired to remove the content-s of the box the lock 13 is removed from the eyes 5 and 6 and said box can then be swung forward such a distance as to permit the contents thereof to be readily removed. A clip 14 is preferably secured upon one side of the movable body and constitutes means for holding letters and the like to be collected by the carrler.

It is to be understood that if desired the box can be hinged at one side instead of at the bottom.

It is of course to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the class described including a hingedly supported body, fastening means for holding said body normally in a predetermined position, a relatively fixed shelf extending over and normally closing the body, means extending from the shelf for the reception of a lock device, and a handle outstanding from the body and cooperating With a locking device for limiting the movement of the body relative to the shelf.

2. A device of the class described including a hingedly supported body, a spring for holding the same normally in a predetermined position, a relatively fixed shelf constituting a closure for the body when said body is in its normal position, spaced devices extending from the shelf, a handle extending from the body and movable between said devices, and a locking means upon said device constituting means for limiting the movement of the handle and body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GOTTFRID XVESTELIN.

Vitnesses LEWIS GREGORY, CHARLES B. GREGORY. 

